Taiwan
Best street food in the world, dramatic gorges, deeply welcoming culture.
Taiwan is one of Asia's most underrated destinations. Taipei has the cleanest streets, friendliest people, and best night markets in the region. Get out of the city and you find marble gorges, mountain hot springs, and a high-speed rail that makes the whole island accessible in days.
At a glance
- Best time
- March, April, October, November
- Climate
- Warm
- Budget
- Budget – Mid-range
- Trip length
- 1–4 weeks
- Language
- Mandarin
- Currency
- TWD (New Taiwan Dollar)
- January: fine
- February: fine
- March: peak
- April: peak
- May: fine
- June: avoid
- July: avoid
- August: avoid
- September: fine
- October: peak
- November: peak
- December: fine
Avoid: June, July, August. Shoulder: January, February, May, September, December.
Highlights
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Taipei
Night markets, hot springs, hipster cafes, and the warmest welcome.
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Taroko Gorge
Marble cliffs, river hikes, ridiculous scenery.
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Tainan
The food capital — historic city with the best snacks.
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Sun Moon Lake
Aboriginal culture and tea farms in the central highlands.
Practical info
- Visa
- Visa-free for most Western passports (90 days). Verify before travel.
- Currency
- TWD (New Taiwan Dollar). Roughly 32 TWD ≈ 1 USD.
- Language
- Mandarin. English limited but signage in Taipei is good.
- Safety
- Very safe. Typhoons June-October worth tracking.
- Getting around
- High-speed rail end-to-end. Metro in Taipei. EasyCard for everything.
- Tap water
- Tap water generally safe; locals often filter.
- Plug type
- Type A Type B 110V
- Money
- Cash for night markets and small shops; cards in cities.
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Last updated 2026-05-04